A “hotline” between air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Pentagon intended to coordinate aircraft has not worked since March 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration revealed in a congressional hearing Wednesday.

A critical communication hotline between the Pentagon and air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has been inoperable since March 2022, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Deputy Chief Operating Officer Franklin McIntosh testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

The issue came to light after two landings at Reagan National airport had to be waved off because of a nearby Army helicopter.